inform

verb

in·​form in-ˈfȯrm 

informed; informing; informs

transitive verb

1

: to communicate knowledge to

inform a prisoner of his rights

2

a

: to give character or essence to

the principles which inform modern teaching

b

: to be the characteristic quality of : animate

the compassion that informs her work

3

obsolete : to give material form to

4

obsolete : guide, direct

5

obsolete : to make known

intransitive verb

1

: to give information (as of another's wrongdoing) to an authority

informed on a member of his own gang

2

: to impart information or knowledge

Synonyms

• talk
• tell (on)

Choose the Right Synonym for inform

inform, acquaint, apprise, notify mean to make one aware of something.

inform implies the imparting of knowledge especially of facts or occurrences.

informed us of the crisis

acquaint lays stress on introducing to or familiarizing with.

acquaint yourself with the keyboard

apprise implies communicating something of special interest or importance.

keep us apprised of the situation

notify implies sending notice of something requiring attention or demanding action.

notified the witness when to appear

Examples of inform in a Sentence

The book will entertain and inform you.

The arresting officer failed to inform the suspect of his rights.

He failed to inform the suspect that he had the right to remain silent.

We haven't yet been informed of her decision.

Frequent reports from the battlefield kept the general informed about how the attack was progressing.

The book will both entertain and inform.

His Catholic upbringing informs all his writing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Guadagnino had noted to Piersanti that Alma was an upper-class woman, which informed the wardrobe pricing, while Maggie, played by Edebiri, was trying to emulate Alma but on a younger woman’s budget. —Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025

Few figures have informed the sensibility of NPR more than Stamberg. —David Folkenflik, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025

Some were hastily informed that their firings were erroneous, but the experience rattled the CDC, an agency tasked with overseeing the national response to seasonal respiratory illnesses at a time when those illnesses typically spike. —Michael Hiltzik, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025

This data informs pretreatment. —Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enformer, from Latin informare, from in- + forma form

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing inform

• inform on/against

Rhymes for inform

• brainstorm
• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform
• planform
• platform
• preform
• rainstorm

Kids Definition

inform

verb

in·​form in-ˈfȯ(ə)rm 

1

: to let a person know something : tell

2

: to give information so as to accuse or cause suspicion

inform against them to the police